Improvement in station-indicators



ELIHU SPENCER, or OTTAWA, CANA-DA.

Letters Patent No. 83,563, dated October 27, 1868. I

vIMPROVEMIEINI IN STATION-INDICATORS.

vThe Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

To all whom, Iit ma/y concern Be it known that IELIHU SrnNonR, ofOttawa, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Station-Indicators for IRailways; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and 'exact descriptionthereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use thesame, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings,.forming a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements instation-indicators 'for railways, which improvements are more especiallyapplicable to an implement for the above purpose which was patented byme, December 3l,- 1867.

The presentinvention consists in the application of a bell to thedevice, sov arranged that it will be automatcally sounded each time theydevice isl operated after leaving each station, to exhibit the name ofa succeeding station.

The invention also consists in the application of a stop to the device,toprevent the latter being casually turnedV or moved in the wrongdirectionby the brake- ,manor other attendant.

The invention also consists in a modification of the construction 'ofthe device, whereby'a candle or lamp' may be applied to illuminate thenames of the stations, so that they will be equally as discernible vatnight asduring the'day.

The invention consists, finally, in a peculiar application of cards tothe front of the device, whereby passengers may be notified where theyare required to change cars, the stations where refreshments may betaken, 8vo., Sto.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings- Figure l is a front view of myinvention, partly in section.. Y

Figure 2, a side view of a portion of the same.

Figure 3, an enlarged and detached plan or top View of thebell-hammermechanism.

Figure 4, a transverse vertical section ofthe cardattachment, taken intheline x x, iig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding arts. p A'represents a rectangl'ilar box, which may be of any suitabledimensions, the upper part, a,.beinga lid or cover, which is attached tothe lower part, b, by hinges or joints.

In'the top part of b there is placed a shaft, on which are secured 'twohexagonal heads, B B, one ofthe journals ofthe shaft having a squareformed on it, to receive a key, C, by which the shaft and its heads areturned.

A series of plates, c, connected together by links or joints, work orare fitted on the heads B B, the width of the plates being equal to thelength of the sides of the heads. These plates c' may be constructed oftinned plates, or thin `sheet-metal, and are cut out at their centres,leaving alarge open space in each plate,

and these spaces are covered with muslin, or any suitwith an end, e.

able cloth or fabric, d, which is transparent or semitransparent. Thenames of the stations are printed or painted on these fabrics d, and byplacing a candle oi lamp, D, at one side of the box A, within a suitablecovering, a and having a hole in the side ofthe box for the rays oflight to enter, the names of the stationsv may be seen equally as wellat night as during the day, and be conspicuous from all parts of a car.

The naines of the stations are exhibited through a proper opening in theront of the box A, and, with the exception of the perforating of theplates c, and covering the perforations with a -cloth or fabric,semitransparent, in order to render the names of the staf tions visibleat night, the mechanism of this part of the device is substantially thesame as in the original patented device.

To the inner surface of one end of the box A there is attached anadjustable or sliding bar, E, (see, more particularly, iig. 2,) havingupright or vertical ends, c c.

By sliding this bar E either to the right or left, the ends e are madeto serve as stops, and prevent the heads B fromy being turned in thewrong direction, in consequence of proj ections, f, on the heads comingin contact One end, e, of the bar can only be adjusted in line with theprojections f at once, and hence the heads B may always be turned in onedirection,

and, by properly adjusting the bar E, only in the right l direction. lIt will be understood, of course, that the movement of the heads isreversed at the commencement of each route from, that of the previousroute.

F is a bell, which is placed onthe top of the box A. This bell is struckby two hammers, G G, the rods Lg of which are attach ed to right-angularplates H Hfthe latter'fworking on pivots, h, and havin the ends ofaspring, I, in contact with them. (See g. 3.)

This spring I may be constructed of a .single rod, bent around a pin,`i,in a frame, K, in the upper part of the lid of the box A, andinwhioh-'frame a lever," K',

is fitted, said lever having its fulcrum at j. The innerJ edges oi' theplates H H are formed with notches, to receive the outer parts of the`springs I.

The long arm of the lever Kis .actuated by projectionsl,v on one ofth'esheads B, and the short arm of said lever acts against one of theplates H, the movement of which is resisted by the spring I, and whenthe projection l of the head has passed the-long arm of the lever K',the spring I forcesthe lever back to its original position, and thehammer G against the bell, producing the necessary sound. N y Y It willb e seen that this bell-striking mechanism is a duplex or double one.This is necessary, order that the lever K' may be operated in eitherdirection, so that the bell may be sounded when'the heads B are turnedin either direction.

To the front side of the box Althere is attached a horizontal rod, onwhich a series of naps, L, is fitted, and allowed to swing freely, theiiaps being attached by hinges or jonts to therod. These flaps have atendency to hang down, by their` own gravity, and on' their imiersides'or surfaces the instructions necessary to be given the passengersin connection with any station are pasted or printed, as, for instance,l \venty minutes for dinner, Change cars, Ste., 85e.

` in order to expose or exhibit these instructions, one ila-p, in eachcase, is raised, and retained in a raised position by a drop-catch, M.(See iig. 4.)

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure -by Letters Patent, is-

1. The cutting out or otherwise constructing the plates c, so as to formframes, over 0r on which a transparent or` scmitransparent fabric, d, issecured, having the naines of the stations upon them, in 'combinationwith a candle. lamp, or other light D, placed at one side of the boxA,auda1=rangcd so as totnrow the rays of light within the saine,substantially as und for the purpose specified.

2. The adjustable or sliding bar or stop E, arranged and applied in themanner substantially as and furthe purpose set forth.

3. The bell-operating mechanism, composed of the lever K', spring I,right-angular plates H H,audlia1u lners G G, all arranged to operate bythe turning of the hc'ads B, substantially and for the purposespecified.

4. The iiaps L, when applied to the box A, and used in connection withthe drop-eatelulYI, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

l ELIHU SPENCER.

Witnesses:

WM. F. MCNAMARA, ALELF. Ronn'rs.

